Rider propelled merry-go-round

ABSTRACT

A seat secured to one end of a horizontal beam whose opposite end is secured to a vertical support column for horizontal rotation of the seat in a circular path, with propelling means in the form of a ringlike track, arranged beneath the seat, and having a curved upper surface forming peaks and valleys and interconnecting ramp portions. A propulsion wheel rides upon the track and is rotatably connected to the lower end of a lever connected between its ends to a pivot on the seat, so that rearward pulls upon the upper end of the lever, while the wheel is upon a descending ramp portion, causes a reaction to propel the seat forwardly.

I United States Patent [151 Ellico 1 Feb. 15, 1972 (54] RIDER PROPELLED MERRY-GO- FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS ROUND 27,862 7/1884 Germany ..272/33 R [72] Inventor: Patrick Ellico, LAnse, Mich.

Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle [73] Assrgnee: Robert J. O Toole, Dearborn, MlCh. Asst-8mm Examiner Amold Kramer [22] Filed; Mm; 27, 1970 At!rney-Cullen, Settle, Sloman & Cantor A seat secured to one end of a horizontal beam whose op- U.S. CL ..272/33 R, 272/44, 104/53 posite end is Secured to a vertical Support column for horizom tal rotation of the seat in a circular path, with propelling [58] Field of Search ..272/44, 43, 33 R, 33 A, 33 B, means in the form of a ringlike track arranged beneath the 272/30 104/ seat, and having a curved upper surface forming peaks and valleys and interconnecting ramp portions. A propulsion wheel rides upon the track and is rotatably connected to the [56] References cued lower end of a lever connected between its ends to a pivot on UNITED STATES PATENTS the seat, so that rearward pulls upon the upper end of the lever, while the wheel upon a descending ramp portion, 661,435 1 1/1900 44 UX causes a reaction to propel the seat forwardly. 2,447,203 8/1948 OToole ....272/33 R 2,533,368 12/1950 Hansen et al ..272/33 R 1 Claim, 2 Drawing Figures 25 o I l l I Y 22 22 t t I I .34 32 2 /2 I l 9 h I l 1 /4 I E l I l|-l|ll-- Hulml, |l l lf\ 'lll li| 23 PAFEMTEUFEB 1 5 I972 3; 642.275

PULL

INVENTOR PATRICK ELLICO AfTORNEYS RIDER PROPELLED MERRY-GO-ROUND BACKGROUND OF INVENTION In the past, small size, self-propelled merry-go-round devices for children have been formed with either a seat or a standing platform pivotally connected to a central support for rotation in a circular path. Generally, these devices have included a foot operated propulsion means, such as that illustrated in the patent to OToole, US. Pat. No. 2,447,203 granted Aug. 17, 1948, wherein the child stands upon a platform and by foot manipulation operates the device. Other forms of this type of outdoor play equipment, have included merely pushing against the ground by the childs leg for operation.

More recently, various types of propulsion linkages and mechanisms have been used, but these generally have been expensive and complicated and lacking in ability to withstand rough handling.

Thus, the invention herein relates to a simplified propulsion system for such a childs merry-go-round which may be operated by hand, rather than by foot, eliminating the potential hazards of foot operation and/or the child standing up, and which requires only a small amount of effort for operation.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The invention herein contemplates a child-operated merrygo-round in the form of a suitably configured seat or a number of seats, connected to a central post by a beam for rotation of the seat in a circular path around the axis of the post. To propel the device, a ringlike track is arranged beneath the seat, coaxial with the post. The upper track surface is formed into hills or peaks and valleys interconnected by ascending and descending ramp portions. A simple, pivoted lever is connected to a pivot on the seat and has its lower end connected to a wheel which rolls upon the track surface, trailing behind the pivot. Thus, a rearward pull upon the upper end of the lever by a seated child, causes a reaction against the track which provides a forward propelling force.

The amount of force needed to propel the device is so small that a seated, small child has adequate strength to operate the merry-go-round at an adequate speed.

Various objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent upon reading the following description, of which the attached drawings form a part.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the merry-go-round showing two rider carrying cars.

FIG. 2 is a schematic elevation of the propelling means illustrated in a sequence of positions as it traverses a portion of the track.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The merry-go-round generally comprises a number of seats, which may be in the form of rider carrying cars each designed to support one or more children, and each supported at the outer end of a rigid radial beam 12 which is fixed at its inner end to a vertical central supporting column 14. Column I4 may be rotatably mounted upon base frame 16 by suitable conventional means. While only two cars and beams have been illustrated, more may be used, and the configuration of the car or other seating means may vary.

A horizontal, circular or ringlike track 18 is secured to the outer ends of base frame 16. The track upper edge or track surface 20 is curved upwardly and downwardly to form high points or peaks 22 and low points or valleys 23, interconnected by ascending ramp portions 24 and descending ramp portions 25.

One of the cars 10 is provided with a propelling lever 26 pivotally secured upon a horizontal pivot shaft 27 fixed at its inner end to the side of the car. Pivot shaft 27 is oriented so that its axis lies on a radius from the center of track 20. Lever 26 comprises an upper lever portion 28, and a lower portion 30 having a soft rubberlike wheel 32 rotatably mounted on an axle 34. A gripping handle 36 is provided at the upper end of the lever.

The height of pivot shaft 27 above the ground remains the same at all times. Thus the length of the lower lever portion 30 is such that the wheel 32 trails rearwardly of the pivot shaft at all times (see FIG. 2).

In the operation, the cars travel around the axis of the support column in a horizontal circular path. Gravity tends to hold wheel 32 in rolling contact with the track surface 20 at all times. To propel the device, the child in the car provided with the lever 26, merely pulls handle 36 backward, towards himself, as the wheel rolls over each descending ramp portion 25, as shown by arrow 37. This produces an upward and forward reaction (see arrow 38) against wheel 32. The forward component of this reaction is transmitted, through the lower portion of the lever, to the pivot shaft 27, thereby driving the car 10 forwardly. Such pull on the handle can be repeated each time the car passes over a descending portion of the track, thereby maintaining the rotary motion of the merry-go-round. At other times, the wheel 32 idles as it rolls upon the track, with the lever upper portion 28 returning to its forwardly position (see arrow 39) as the wheel rolls over an ascending track ramp portion 24.

Due to the configuration of propelling lever 26 and the angular relationship between its upper and lower portions as well as their relative lengths, a substantial mechanical advantage is available that permits a seated child to impart, with relatively little effort, a sufficient force to propel the merry-go-round at an adequate speed.

Having described an operative device,

I now claim:

1. In a rider propelled mer'ry-goround having a vertical support column with a radially and horizontally outwardly extending beam having its inner end secured to the column, and a seating means, having a forward end, secured to the outer free end of the beam, and with the beam and seating means together being rotatable, in a horizontal plane about the axis of the column, and means for propelling said seating means comprising:

a circular ring arranged horizontally and coaxial with the support column beneath the seating means, with the upper edge of the ring forming a circular track surface which gradually curves upwardly and downwardly to form a number of peaks and valleys interconnected by ascending and descending ramp portions;

a propelling lever arranged in a vertical plane and secured to the seating means by a horizontal pivot and having an upper lever portion extending upwardly above the pivot and having an upper, free, handgrasp end portion arranged forwardly of and for handgrasping by a rider, and a lower lever portion extending downwardly and rearwardly of the pivot and having a wheel rotatably mounted upon the lower end of the lower lever portion, the wheel being arranged to roll upon said track surface below but at all times rearwardly of said pivot;

with said pivot moving at all times in a horizontal, circular path with the seating means, wherein hand pulling the upper lever handgrasp portion rearwardly, that is, towards the rider, while the wheel is on a descending ramp portion causes a forwardly directed reaction therefrom to propel the seating means forwardly, withthe wheel otherwise idling as it rolls along the remainder of the track surface. 

1. In a rider propelled merry-go-round having a vertical support column with a radially and horizontally outwardly extending beam having its inner end secured to the column, and a seating means, having a forward end, secured to the outer free end of the beam, and with the beam and seating means together being rotatable, in a horizontal plane about the axis of the column, and means for propelling said seating means comprising: a circular ring arranged horizontally and coaxial with the support column beneath the seating means, with the upper edge of the ring forming a circular track surface which gradually curves upwardly and downwardly to form a number of peaks and valleys interconnected by ascending and descending ramp portions; a propelling lever arranged in a vertical plane and secured to the seating means by a horizontal pivot and having an upper lever portion extending upwardly above the pivot and having an upper, free, handgrasp end portion arranged forwardly of and for handgrasping by a rider, and a lower lever portion extending downwardly and rearwardly of the pivot and having a wheel rotatably mounted upon the lower end of the lower lever portion, the wheel being arranged to roll upon said track surface below but at all times rearwardly of said pivot; with said pivot moving at all times in a horiZontal, circular path with the seating means, wherein hand pulling the upper lever handgrasp portion rearwardly, that is, towards the rider, while the wheel is on a descending ramp portion causes a forwardly directed reaction therefrom to propel the seating means forwardly, with the wheel otherwise idling as it rolls along the remainder of the track surface. 